Appearing via a video link from the jail where he has been held on remand he told Judge Philip Grey “Go **** yourself!”

Having stormed out of the video suite at the jail, Judge Grey said the outburst demonstrated Banks’ complete lack of remorse and showed he had no insight into what he’d done back in March of this year.

Prosecutor Richard Paton-Philip told how late on the night of March 16 going into the early hours of March 17 police attended the defendant’s flat in Stanborough Close, Welwyn Garden City.

He had been involved in a domestic-type incident with a woman and by the time police arrived that night, Banks had barricaded himself inside the first floor flat using furniture including a sofa and a fridge.

The scene at Stanborough Close following a rooftop siege by Jon Banks.
Picture: Supplied.

He refused to engage with the officers, who could see him inside the property waving a knife around shouting abuse and threatening the police.

Mr Paton-Smith said Banks began throwing items out of the window at the police including a toaster, cutlery, and a lamp.

The prosecutor said: “It went on for hours and officers had to deploy their shields.

“He then used a saw to gain access to the roof and removed tiles.”

Debris in Stanborough Close thanks to Jon Banks, who has now been jailed.
Picture: Supplied

Judge Grey, hearing the case, was told many of the tiles from the roof were removed by Banks and used as missiles.

As a result Banks caused damage to a member of the public’s car parked outside the building as well as a police vehicle.

Police decided to evacuate his near neighbours due to the tiles being thrown.

The evacuation took place under the cover darkness with officers using their shields to protect residents as they moved them to safety.

“He was on the roof for five hours,” said Mr Paton-Smith who added that Banks was eventually coaxed down and arrested.

The court heard the damage to the roof of the housing association flat and the cars was in excess of £5,000.

In court on Thursday, Banks who has two children, pleaded guilty to three offences of criminal damage and affray.

The court was told he had a long list of previous offences and had been before the courts previously on 22 occasions for a total of 65 offences.

Miss Diana Constantinide, defending, said: “It’s quite clear we are dealing with a very angry man.”

“They had to be removed in the night and under the over of police shields for their own safety.”

It was as the judge was going through his list of previous offences that Banks suddenly stood up from his chair and moved closer to the video camer to shout:”Go **** yourself” before storming out of shot.

With the link from the court to the jail severed, the Judge sentenced Banks to a total of 25 months in jail.

He compared the defendant to a toddler who blames others when things go wrong before throwing a temper tantrum.